What the heck makes the upper radiator hose close completely shut? It squeezes so close together, that I don't see how antifreeze can get through to cool the motor. It has always ran cool, and it's never even attempted to over heat not the first time. I thought I had a thermostat problem, and changed it, and the radiator hose still squeezed together. My next thought was maybe a weak hose??? It's the factory hose, but you would think with the UPPER radiator hose having all the pressure on it from the t-stat closing and opening, that the hose wouldn't be able to squeeze shut like that.

 

Hm, that is weird.....done any recent maintenance to the cooling system?(ie waterpump) For now...wrap the upper hose from end to end with a stiff piece of wire...it'll look like crap but it'll keep it from doin that and fryin your engine.

 

Before wintertime, I drained all the antifreeze out of the radiator and put fresh 50/50 antifreeze in it. That's been 7 or 8 months ago though. The temp gauge always runs on the N on normal. I noticed the radiator hose the day after I got done putting ball joints and u-joints in the front end (that was about 2 weeks ago). I was like wtf? If it ain't one thing, it's another. haha

 

That is kinda weird...probly should flush the cooling system (especially the radiator) out thoroughly....I pour muratic acid in the radiator when I do it and clean it very very thoroughly.....could be getting clogged down low and it sucks the hose it.

 

Where do you get muratic acid from?

 

with the engine cool, squeeze the hose, it should be stiff, but still flexable. if its too soft replace it

 

A hardware store or home improvement store...DO NOT GET IT ON YOU ANYWHERE...there's a reason you must be 18 to buy it....and x2 on squeezin the hose.....I'd still wrap a stiff wire around it whether you replace it or not.

 

That is weird.

 

I had this problem on a jeep of mine.. a website recommended I find long spring with a diameter that matched the ID of the radiator hose. And stuff the hose with it so it can not collapse. I tried it and it worked GREAT! Ran great for years, then my radiator went out, it was totally clogged. So this really only seems to bandaid the problem but it does work.

I happen to have a spring company local to me though.

 

Common for the hose to collapse when it gets hot, there is enough suction to close the hose. Find a hose with an internal spring, usually all the heavy duty hoses have them, some even have them on the lower hose.